Ying Li, associate professor in the East Tennessee State University College of Public Health Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety Sciences, is co-author of an article in Climate. The recent study featured on the journal’s cover, showed that improvements in air quality in the Mid-South over the period from 1999 to 2019 driven by the implementation of the Clean Air Act and its amendments could yield tangible health benefits. The article, Clean Air Benefits and Climate Penalty: A Health Impact Analysis of Mortality Trends in the Mid-South Region, USA examines the interplay between air quality improvements and climate change impacts on mortality rates in the Mid-South Region, encompassing Shelby County (TN), DeSoto County (MS), and Crittenden County (AR). Covering the period from 1999 to 2019, the study analyzes data on fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅), ozone levels, warm-season temperatures, and age-adjusted mortality rates.
Chunrong Jia of the University of Memphis, is lead author. Additional co-authors include University of Memphis faculty.
The study found there was a significant reduction in air pollutants, with PM₂.₅ levels decreasing by 46% and ozone levels by 23% over the two-decade span. The age-adjusted all-cause mortality rate declined by 215 deaths per 100,000 person-years, representing a 21% decrease. The reductions in PM₂.₅ and ozone concentrations contributed to 23% and 17% of the mortality rate decline, respectively. Warm-season temperatures showed minor fluctuations without a significant upward trend, indicating a negligible "climate penalty" effect on mortality during the study period.
The study underscores the substantial health benefits derived from air pollution control measures in the Mid-South Region. Despite concerns about climate change potentially offsetting these gains, the data did not reveal a significant adverse impact from temperature increases on mortality rates during the study period. The authors advocate for the use of publicly available environmental and health data to conduct localized health impact assessments, which can inform policy decisions and recognize the efforts of environmental professionals.